Game Maker’s Play Test Notes (Till Death Do Us Part)

What questions did your players have?

How are we supposed to know what order to examine the evidence? If the game maker is not present, how do we fact-check our guesses?

How quickly did they learn to play?

The players instantly dived into the game, even before I began to explain what the how and why.

What kinds of interactions did the players have?

The players discussed, acted interviews out, and collaborated to decipher codes.

What confused players?

Any and all red herrings I threw into the game left the players slightly confused.

What made players excited?

Examining the small details to help solve the mystery.

What did your players enjoy doing?

Acting out the police interviews.

Did any aspect of the game frustrate players?

The quantity of documents frustrated a few players, while others enjoyed looking through them all.

Playtest for “Help our Guy”

What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

When I drew cards that were not a color my team could play.

What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

Winning the rounds!

Was there anything that you wanted to do but couldn’t?

Utilize the wild cards.

If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

Give the wild cards a value, or remove them from the deck.

What should be improved with the next version?

Have a typed set of rules.

What was the game’s message?

Discussing how lobbyist can control major outcomes

Describe the game in three words.

Political, fast, and team.

Playtest for “Around The World In 80 Days”

What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

My own ignorance and lack of global understanding.

What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

Doing the phrase cards.

Was there anything that you wanted to do but couldn’t?

No, not necessarily!

If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

Add an answer key to the back of the cards.

What should be improved with the next version?

More phrase cards!!

What was the game’s message?

It is educational in terms of global culture and geography.

Describe the game in three words.

Educational, culture, and humbling.

Additional notes:

  • Group vote for mispronunciation
  • Have a moderator?
  • Multiple choice
  • fact check
  • harder phrases
  • shorter timer

Playtest for “Overconsumption”

What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

Having to face the reality of my own wasteful pratices.

What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

Discussing answers with players.

Was there anything that you wanted to do but couldn’t?

not move/ move less if my answer could be both negative and positive.

If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

Add more spaces.

What should be improved with the next version?

More spaces, and a new board illustration.

What was the game’s message?

to understand what it means to overconsume and how we do it in our daily lives.

Describe the game in three words.

Discussion, confrontation, environmental.

Additional notes:

  • Maybe have less content on each card?
  • have a symbol for how many spaces you move?

Week 6 Simulation Games

I wish they made a VR version of the game Dr.Jones showed us. Same rule sets but I feel like the game was not as interesting for the soldiers playing it, was because it was not in first person. I feel like the player needs to feel like they are there and not just spectating it. VR makes it more realistic and they can add a few motions to make the game run smoothly. You making certain hand gestures can determine whether or not your platoon stays or moves forward. I feel like they should add roles as well. Could be like Officer, Assault, Recon, Medic, Heavy. It would be really cool if you were able to move shot soldiers out of the way and give them morphine to heal them would be really cool. Makes it way more realistic and more serious.

EcoCity- Live another life in this virtual world where you can get a second chance at life. Goal is to just live life like you do in the real world.

ArchitectVR- Live the life of building anything you want. Be careful because one little incident could end you.

SpaceMan: Build a colony on Mars. Your goal is to explore and expand your empire. Be careful though, you never know what could be lurking beside you.

Life: The game of life in VR but you actually have to play everything out and experience it first hand.

Week 5 Play Test Update

So just for this case for now I called the game Bray Cup. The main reactions from what I have seen varied in a couple of ways. One of them being is that some of the players wanted less drinking cards, the other wanted less of the “emotional cards?” whatever that means, and other basic rules changes. Overall though it seemed that they enjoyed it. They want to see a more updated version with more cards and more polished rules. Not sure if I want to continue this game or not for the sake of being able to submit this or not. I personally love this game and think its pretty fun to play.

Week 4

My prototype I am working on is a drinking game. Not 100% sure if I am allowed to do this or not but its been a blast making it so far. Obviously I can not play test this in class, so next week when my friends come up I will let them play it and give me their opinions. The main reason I decided to do this though is that I love whenever I can sit down with my best friends and play a game like this. The goal obviously is to drink but I also put more heartwarming cards in it so maybe every now and then you can get a compliment or two. I think this will be an iteration of the game Kings Cup. Whatever the case I’ll post an update whenever this is finished.

5 Ideas for Simulation Games

  1. Student Simulation Game

Go through a college campus of your choice. Pick from being the star QB to a frat brother on the coolest frat. Go around college life how you see fit for your choice.

    2. Celeb Simulation

    Be any celeb of your choosing and live in his or her shoes and see if you can keep up with their busy lifestyle

    3. Judge Simulation

    You are the best judge for a bunch of high profile cases. Whose side are you gonna take? And how is that going to affect the world in the long run.

    4. Presidential Simulation

    You are the president of the United Crates. You will be presented with very intense situations. How will you deal with them. Will you keep the Crates safe of will you start another World War with Crusha.

    5. Mob Boss Simulation

    You are the mob boss of the biggest mob in NYC. Try to stay away from the police. Deal with the mob and the business while trying to raise a young impressionable daughter.

    Week 3 Game played

    I played Dumb Ways To Die, to be honest I played this a lot growing up with my friends because we thought it was really funny. The main thing is that we played each other to see who would get the best score. Does make you feel bad or wonder what its like to be in their shoes. Other than that its a fun little game to play.

    Week 3

    Day in your shoes: Players live a day in the life of an other player. Goal is to feel empathetic for other player.

    Silent Conversations: Players communicate through body language. Game revolves around a social challenge.

    Helping Hand: Help the player throughout their day. Goal is to show kindness.

    Perspective Shift: Players must solve problem based on the certain character. Game highlights the point of viewing multiple viewpoints.

    Letter to a Friend: Gift a letter to any of your friends. Game shows how human show empathy and emotional connection.

    Week 2

    Debate Simulator: Game that requires you to persuade the npc on changing their opinions for the election.

    Empathy Experience: Tell life stories and get a different reaction from other people. Goal is to change players perspective on stories.

    Mind Benda: A game that challenges their understanding of reality. Requires players to think outside normal patterns.

    Identity Crisis: Player can shapeshift into different forms, goal is to find out why the player transformed into that shape.

    Echoes: Normal story game but as the game goes on the choices you made keep stacking and stacking ubtil the game is almost unbeatable

    Discussion: Doctrine – Cognitive Task Analysis, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Medical Simulation

    Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) is a method used to break down complex tasks into smaller cognitive steps, helping individuals learn and apply skills more effectively.

    Full Spectrum Warrior is a military training simulation disguised as a video game, developed to teach soldiers tactical decision-making under pressure.

    Medical Simulations use virtual or physical environments to train medical professionals in procedures, crisis management, and decision-making. These simulations allow learners to practice without real-world consequences, reinforcing procedural memory and critical thinking under pressure.

    Full Spectrum Warrior is a military training simulation disguised as a video game, developed to teach soldiers tactical decision-making under pressure.

    Medical Simulations use virtual or physical environments to train medical professionals in procedures, crisis management, and decision-making.